Mandarin tree named &#39;950&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new mandarin hybrid tree particularly distinguished by having dense foliation; bearing fruit that are attractive in appearance with excellent eating quality; has lateral branching with lower angle plant habit; a round tree shape; and nearly seedless fruit is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Citrus reticulata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘950’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The invention relates to a new and distinct variety of mandarin Citrusreticulata hybrid tree named ‘950’. ‘950’ is a very vigorous tree thatproduces nearly seedless fruit and has a non-pungent peel oil. ‘950’usually ripens from the end of November to late January in centralFlorida.

‘950’ originated from a cross conducted in March of 1991 in Lake Alfred,Fla., between ‘LB8-8’ (unpatented) and ‘Fortune’ (unpatented). Parent‘LB8-8’ is a hybrid of a ‘Clementine’ and ‘Minneola tangelo’, and parent‘Fortune’ has been reported to be a hybrid of ‘Algerian Clementine’ andunknown. Asexually propagated trees of ‘950’ have remained true to theoriginal selected budded tree, and all characteristics of the fruit andtree have been transmitted through asexual vegetative generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for.‘950’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior tothe filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of mandarin hybrid (tangerine) tree bearsfruit that ripens from the end of November to late January in centralFlorida. The trees usually bloom around March to early April in centralFlorida, depending on the season, and they grow in a moderately vigorousmanner. The fruit of ‘950’ trees are nearly seedless, tend to be a bitsmaller in diameter (between 55 mm to 65 mm) than fruit of ‘LB8-8’, havea round shape, moderate acidity, an orange color internally and anorange-red color externally, and have excellent eating quality. Thefruit are juicy, but can be easily peeled.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Florida.

1. Dense foliation;

2. Bearing fruit that are attractive in appearance with excellent eatingquality;

3. Lateral branching with lower angle plant habit;

4. Round tree shape; and

5. Nearly seedless fruit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new mandarin tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the tree's form, foliage and fruit. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photographs are of a tree approximately 10-years old.FIGS. 1-5 were taken in Spring and Fall 2008.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit including foliage and fruit takenin the spring-time.

FIG. 2 shows mature fruit hanging on the tree.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the mature leaves.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the mature fruit with the rind present andcross-sectional view of the fruit when cut in the center.

FIG. 5 shows an additional close-up of the mature fruit with the rindpresent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘950’. The present botanical description was takenfrom an individual 10-year-old tree grown on its own roots at the Rileyresearch block of University of Florida Citrus Research and EducationCenter near Haines City, Fla. The colors (except those in common terms)are described from R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society in London (second edition), in association withthe Flower Council of Holland.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Citrus reticulata.        -   Common name.—Mandarin hybrid or Tangerine.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘LB8-8’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘Fortune’ (unpatented).-   Tree:    -   -   Ploidy.—Diploid.        -   Size.—Medium with a height of 3.0 m at 10 years old.        -   Tree spread.—4.3 m if un-pruned.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous, growing shoots of 30.0 cm or more typically            from spring flush on current tree.        -   Density.—Canopies are quite dense.        -   Form.—The shape of the tree is round with lateral branches            toward low medium angles without fruiting. Branches with            fruits exhibit drooping.        -   Growth habit (current season).—Lateral branching with lower            angle.-   Trunk and branches:    -   -   Trunk diameter.—12.2 cm measured at 30.0 cm above the            ground.        -   Trunk texture.—Smooth.        -   Trunk bark color.—RHS 197A (greyed-green); irregularly            striated with RHS 189B (greyed-green).        -   Crotch angle.—First tree crotch formed 60 degrees angle, and            second crotch formed 20 and 40 degree angles.        -   Branch length.—3.6 m from the first crotch to the tip of the            leaf branch.        -   Branch texture.—Relatively smooth and without thorns or            spines.        -   Branch color.—RHS N137B (green).        -   Branch diameter.—4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size (lamina average).—Length: 71.5 mm Width: 32.5 mm L/W            ratio: 2.2.        -   Thickness.—Regular and average for commercial mandarin            hybrids.        -   Type.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire, smooth and slightly undulate.        -   Surface.—Upper surface: Glabrous Lower surface: Medium veins            that are pinnately netted.        -   Color.—Upper surface (adaxial): Range from RHS 143B (green)            to RHS N137A (green) Lower surface (abaxial): Range from RHS            145A (yellow-green) to RHS 143B (green).        -   Petiole.—Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina);            junction between petiole and lamina is articulate Shape            (petiole wing): Obovate Length: 12.0 mm to 13.0 mm Width:            2.0 mm to 2.3 mm Color: RHS 143A (green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Type.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Bearing.—Flower grown from leaf axillaries in cluster or            single. Each cluster consisted of 3 to 4 flowers. One flower            branch consists of 3 to 4 flower clusters.        -   Diameter (fully opened).—28.2 mm to 29.0 mm.        -   Depth.—11.5 min to 12.4 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Length: Immature: 1.8 mm to 2.0 mm Mature: 11.1            mm Diameter: Immature: 2.0 mm Mature: 5.3 mm Shape:            Immature: Round and dome Mature: Elongated olive Color:            Immature: RHS 144D (yellow-green) Mature: RHS NN155C (white)            with RHS N144D (yellow-green) spots distributed on the            surface of the petal.        -   Petals.—Shape: Flat spatula Apex: Smooth acute Base: Even            obtuse Number: 5 Color: Upper surface: RHS 155C (white) to            RHS 155B (white) Lower surface: RHS NN155C (white) and RHS            NN 144D (yellow-green) Length: 13.5 mm Width: 4 1 mm Margin:            Smooth.        -   Sepal.—Number: 5 Shape: Delta shaped with acute angle at            apex Length: 2.0 mm to 2.1 mm Width: 2.1 mm Apex shape:            Acute angle at apex Margin: Smooth Color: Upper surface: RHS            142D (yellow-green) Lower surface: RHS 150D (yellow-green).        -   Pedicel.—Length: 4.8 mm Diameter: 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm Color:            RHS 143B (green) to RHS 143A (green).        -   Blossom period.—First bloom: Early March in Central Florida            Full bloom: Mid March to early April Fragrance: Moderate            compared to other citrus blossoms.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—Length: 8.2 mm Number: 17 Color: RHS 16B            (yellow-orange).        -   Anther.—Width: 0.7 mm Length: 2.0 mm to 2.1 mm Anther            filament length: 6.1 mm average.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 6.1 mm Color: RHS 142D (green)            Style length: 3.8 mm to 4.1 mm average Style diameter: 0.75            mm Style color: RHS 142D (green) Ovary shape: Oval Ovary            diameter: 1.8 mm Ovary color: RHS 143C (green).        -   Pollen amount.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 13A (yellow).-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Uniform.        -   Weight (per individual fruit).—82.0 g to 120.0 g.        -   Length.—57.2 mm to 65.0 mm.        -   Width.—52.8 mm to 60.0 mm.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Shape (cross-section).—Round.        -   Apex.—Truncated.        -   Apex cavity diameter.—1.0 mm.        -   Base.—Flat with very short neck and wrinkled.        -   Base cavity diameter.—4.8 mm.        -   Diameter of the connecting stem.—2.5 mm.        -   Color of the connecting stem.—RHS 198D (greyed-green).        -   Harvesting data.—End of November to late January.-   Rind:    -   -   Adherence.—Albedo (mesocarp) to flesh (endocarp) is medium            low, compared to other commercial hybrid varieties, easy to            peel. Low adherence is evenly distributed through the whole            fruit.        -   Thickness.—2.0 mm, relatively thin compared to other            commercial mandarin hybrid varieties.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Flavedo (epicarp): Range from between RHS 24C            (orange) to RHS 24B (orange-red) Albedo (mesocarp): RHS 24A            (orange).        -   Stylar end.—Closed.-   Flesh:    -   -   Number of segments.—Average between 9 and 12 per fruit.        -   Segment walls.—Medium firm with sufficient strength to            maintain integrity as separated.        -   Juice.—Abundant.        -   Color.—Uniformly RHS 25A (orange).        -   Texture.—Firm to medium soft.        -   Vesicles.—Medium thick compared with other mandarin            varieties Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm Width: 2.0 mm to 3 0 mm.        -   Eating quality.—Soluble solids (average): 13.1 Brix Acidity            (average): 0.82% Ratio: 15.98.-   Seeds:    -   -   Type.—In many cases, seeds appear to be monoembryonic. In            fewer cases, some fruit also produce polyembryonic seeds.        -   Number.—Ranges from 0 to 2, most fruit being seedless.        -   Shape.—Most normal and fully developed seeds are            ventricose/swollen shaped. Undeveloped seeds are mostly            clavate club-shaped.        -   Seed length.—9.0 mm.        -   Seed width.—5.5 mm.        -   Seed coat color.—Outer surface: RHS 13C (yellow) and smooth            Inner surface: RHS 165D (greyed-orange).        -   Cotyledon color.—RHS 138C (green).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘950’ differs from the female parent ‘LB8-8’ (unpatented) by beingsmaller in diameter, 55.0 mm to 65.0 mm, compared to 70.0 mm to 130.0mm. Additionally, ‘950’ has a round shape, whereas ‘LB8-8’ has apyriform shape, and ‘950’ has nearly seedless fruit, whereas ‘LB8-8’ hasseedy fruit. In addition, ‘LB8-8’ produces fruit with extremely lowacidity, compared to ‘950’.

‘950’ differs from the male parent ‘Fortune’ (unpatented) by havingmoderate acidity, whereas ‘Fortune’ has high acidity. Additionally,‘950’ has mid-season maturity, whereas ‘Fortune’ has late seasonmaturity, and ‘950’ has nearly seedless fruit, whereas ‘Fortune’ hasseedy fruit.

Compared to the commercial variety ‘Clementine’ (unpatented), ‘950’ hasmid-season maturity, whereas ‘Clementine’ has early season maturity, and‘950’ has non-pungent peel oil, whereas ‘Clementine’ has pungent peeloil. Additionally, ‘950’ is nearly seedless even with abundant crosspollination, whereas ‘Clementine’ is seedy upon cross pollination.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of mandarin hybrid tree as shown anddescribed herein.